Smoking instrument



Nov. 22, 1966 E. L. TEAFORD, SR 3,286,715

SMOKING INSTRUMENT Filed May 4, 1 964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 29 3 13 l j f/P/vzsr L. 724F021), .578.

FI INVENTOR.

Arromgx Nov. 22, 1966 Filed May 4, 1964 E. L. TEAFORD, SR 3,286,715

SMOKING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @DM/a MM,

ATTO/ENEY United States Patent 3,286,715 SMOKING INSTRUMENT Ernest L. Teaford, Sr., RR. 1, Eaton, Ohio Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,409 1 Claim. (Cl. 131-198) The present invention relates to a smoking instrument and more especially to a device used as a smoking pipe.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a smoking instrument which is adapted to considerably reduce if not to eliminate entirely the moisture drawn through the instrument by the smoker.

A second object is the provision of a catch basin for collecting moisture from burning tobacco, with the catch basin being located directly below the bowl of the instrument.

A third object is the provision of a vertical passage incorporated in a smoking instrument through which smoke must travel upwardly.

A fourth object is the provision of a needle valve in the vertical passage, with the needle valve providing means for regulating the admission of air to the column of smoke passing upwardly through the vertical passage.

Further objects and particular advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claim.

In order that the device and the construction thereof will be more comprehensive, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, with reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a smoking instrument embodying the features of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device, taken from line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the device, taken from line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the device, taken from line 4P4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the device, taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the instrument includes a stern member having a body designated by the numerals 11, of such design as to lend itself to the attachment of other parts of the instrument, with the same being preferably formed of transparent Plexiglas or like material. Numerals 12 designate a thimble which is threaded into the forward end of the body 11. Thimble 12 is externally threaded to be secured in the horizontally-disposed passage 13 of the body, and is also internally threaded at its forward end for the reception of a closure plug 14 which is adapted to be threaded into the thimble, and with gasket 15 being provided between the thimble and the closure plug.

A hollow tobacco-burning bowl 16 is secured, through the bottom thereof, to thimble 12 by means of a screw 17 which is threaded into the thimble, with the screw 17 having a vertical smoke passage 18 formed therethrough, as more clearly shown in FIGURE 5.

Horizontally-disposed passage 13 terminates at its rear end, in an intermediate vertically-disposed threaded hollow shaft 19. Hollow shaft 19, is formed vertically entirely through the central portion of the body, with there being a plug 20 threaded into the lower end thereof. Needle 21 forms a part of plug 20 with there being a tapered point 22 formed on the upper end of the needle. The upper end of shaft 19 has valve member 23 threaded thereinto and with the same having an air passage 24 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 "ice formed vertically therethrough, with the lower end of passage 24 terminating in a conical-shaped opening 25, with the conical-shaped opening 25 and the tapered point 22 of needle 21 providing an adjustable means or valve for controlling the volume of air drawn downwardly through air passage 24.

The rear end of the stem member has passage 26 formed therein with the forward end of passage 26 terminating in and connecting with vertically-disposed shaft 19, and with passage 26 communicating with shaft 19 at a higher point than passage 13. The rear end portion of passage 26 hasthreads 27 formed therein for the reception of bushing 28. A ball cleaner member 29, having the rear end thereof embedded in the forward end of stem 30, is threaded into bushing 28 and with there being a passage 31 formed longitudinally through ball cleaner member 29. A passage 32 is formed through the stem 30 with the forward end of passage 32 communicating with passage 31 of the ball cleaner member. A gasket 33 is provided between the rear end of body 11 and the forward end of stem 30, as shown in FIG- URE 5.

OPERATION In order to use the instrument, the bowl 16 is filled with tobacco, with the same then being lighted. As the smoker draws through the stem 30, the smoke is drawn downwardly in the bowl and through vertical smoke passage 18 and into horizontally-disposed passage 13 through thimble 12. The smoke, when passing through the thimble, loses some of the moisture contained therein. After passing through passage 13, the smoke enters shaft 19 and is drawn upwardly therethrough and thence into passage 26, after which the smoke enters passage 31 and is drawn rearwardly into and through passage 32 of the stem 30.

It is obvious that any moisture in the smoke will naturally settle either in the thimble 12, the lower portion of shaft 19, or in the passage 26.

Valve member 23 provides means controlling the draft downwardly through the burning tobacco in the bowl. When the tobacco is first ignited, valve member 23 is preferably screwed down to seat the tapered point 22 in conical opening 25 and thereby completely closing the lower end of air passage 24 with the drawing of smoke by the smoker being stronger and thereby causing an even start of burning tobacco in the bowl. After the tobacco is ignited to the desired extent, valve 23 is loosened thereby raising the conical seat from the tapered point and permitting a desired proportionate amount of air to be drawn through air passage 24 into shaft 19 where the incoming air through the air passage mixes with the smoke as the smoke is drawn toward the rear end of stem 30. Alternately, the plug 20 can be loosened, thereby lowering the tapered point from the conical seat and providing the same result, The air passing through air passage 24 and mixing with the smoke provides the smoker with a cool and dry smoke.

Thimble 12 also provides a space in which a filter (not shown) can be provided, if desired. Closure plug 14 can readily be removed for removing any moisture which might collect in thimble 12, or for the removal and replacement of filters if the same are used.

I have shown and described the invention in its presently-preferred form. However, it is desired that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact form .and arrangement of the several members of the instrument, but that minor changes may be made therein insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claim in its broadest form.

Having now shown and described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A tobacco pipe having a vertically disposed tobacco bowl at the forward end thereof and having a smoke outlet in the lower portion thereof, a hollow stem member having a forward portion thereof extending horizontally below the bowl, supporting the same and in communication with the smoke outlet thereof, said stem member having an intermediate portion extending vertically from and in communication with the stem forward portion, said intermediate portion having an open upper and an open lower end, said stem member having a rear portion extending horizontally from said intermediate portion and in communication therewith and a mouthpiece at the rear end of the rear stem portion, communicating therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom, the open ends of said intermediate portion having removable closures therein, one of said closures having an axial passage therein adapted to permit air to be drawn into said intermediate portion, said air passage terminating in a divergent wall portion within the intermediate portion of the stem, the second closure member including a central extension in the form of a needle having a pointed tip complementary to said divergent wall portion,

means for moving said closures toward and away from each other whereby said needle tip may be seated in or unseated from said divergent wall portion to close, to open and to regulate the volume of air drawn into said intermediate portion, said divergent wall portion being located in said vertical intermediate stem portion adjacent to the location where said vertical portion communicates with a horizontally extending portion of the stem member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 875,369 12/1907 McMurray 131-202 890,751 6/1908 Austin 131-198 X 1,059,956 4/1913 Davis 131-198 1,672,307 6/1928 De Vore 131-l96 2,285,057 6/1942 Russell 131194 2,588,447 3/1952 Winden 131202 3,152,596 10/1964 Figge 131l98 FOREIGN PATENTS 615,186 10/1926 France.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

